Pupil has no days off in 12 years

12:01AM BST 26 Jul 2007

Many children will try to take time off school with the slightest of sniffles. But Jason Rogers, 16, enjoys it so much that he has not missed a day during 12 years of education.

He has notched up more than 14,000 hours over 2,340 school days since starting at Hollyfast Primary School in Coventry aged four, continuing his unblemished record at Coundon Court School and Community College in the city.

He said: "There were days when I had a cold but I enjoyed coming to school anyway so it wasn't enough to put me off.

"My parents have always encouraged me and told me just because I had a cold it was no reason not to go to school, so I've always felt that unless I've lost a leg, I could go in. The closest I came to having time off was when I fractured my thumb but luckily it happened at the weekend so I was OK by the Monday."

Jason, who is waiting for his GCSE results, has been presented with an attendance award ahead of starting an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce, which he will combine with college study. "I'd like to not have a day off in this job - it's just something you get used to," he said.